Monchengladbach post match (top of the group)

[vmsuhail]

I do though want to mention Yaya. Not sure if it was just me, but he looked to be a leader last night, constantly geeing up the lads and at one point laying into (I think it was Gael) for something. Great to see him play well and captain the side properly.

Maybe it's time Pellers start to manage gametime to get the best out of Yaya. Something like starting 3 matches in 2 weeks or so.

 

[Tuearts right boot]

Toure had that look in his eyes when he got on the pitch,he was going the own that match.

 

[its a Barm]

i wasnt able to watch the first half due to the wife hogging the tv so i had to "watch" it via our match day thread.....wow......i almost didnt watch the second half after reading some of the comments on it!
bloody glad i did now!
An amazing second half performance.
Well done lads!

Ha ha ha WTF you a man or a mouse, fuckin soaps or City............

 

[Father Paul]

I found it amazing in the build up to this game how many described it as a non event and a dead rubber when top place was there to be won.
Great second half performance.

I am one of those and I stand over it. To me it is a competition that we should aspire to winning in the future but right now we are not serious contenders. I repeat what I said last week that I would have traded winning this group for three points at Stoke. If in May we come up two points short I suggest you will feel exactly the same

 

[C-Hop25]

I am one of those and I stand over it. To me it is a competition that we should aspire to winning in the future but right now we are not serious contenders. I repeat what I said last week that I would have traded winning this group for three points at Stoke. If in May we come up two points short I suggest you will feel exactly the same

Embrace the Champions League would you and get behind the team. We want to be as successful as possible and go as far in this competition as we can.

Regardless, if we ain't 'serious' contenders we should be behind our squad all the way. The best teams do well in both league and Champions League. We don't have to pick one or the other fs

 

[Chi-town blues]

Wonder what the junkie dipper had to say to his fellow county man.

 

[bluemoon98]

Abit weird when yaya was dead on the floor after his shot lol ;-)

 

[cleavers]

I am one of those and I stand over it. To me it is a competition that we should aspire to winning in the future but right now we are not serious contenders.

Chelsea weren't serious contenders the year they won it, Juve weren't last year but got to the final. Our owner wants to win it, and/or get as far as we can in it, every year, so its time some of our so called supporters did the same.

We probably won't win it this year, but MP "managing" the squad to be able to top the group last night/last weekend won't on its own cost us the league in May, any more than a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford will. The league is done over 38 games, and so far we have only played 15, and we're just 3 points behind, whilst in the midst of an injury crisis.

Its time to drop the "we're doomed" negative attitude, and get behind the manager and the players, last night was the perfect time to turn it round and support both.

 

[blueinsa]

Chelsea weren't serious contenders the year they won it, Juve weren't last year but got to the final. Our owner wants to win it, and/or get as far as we can in it, every year, so its time some of our so called supporters did the same.

We probably won't win it this year, but MP "managing" the squad to be able to top the group last night/last weekend won't on its own cost us the league in May, any more than a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford will. The league is done over 38 games, and so far we have only played 15, and we're just 3 points behind, whilst in the midst of an injury crisis.

Its time to drop the "we're doomed" negative attitude, and get behind the manager and the players, last night was the perfect time to turn it round and support both.

Hallelujah brother!

 

[coleridge]

Chelsea weren't serious contenders the year they won it, Juve weren't last year but got to the final. Our owner wants to win it, and/or get as far as we can in it, every year, so its time some of our so called supporters did the same.

We probably won't win it this year, but MP "managing" the squad to be able to top the group last night/last weekend won't on its own cost us the league in May, any more than a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford will. The league is done over 38 games, and so far we have only played 15, and we're just 3 points behind, whilst in the midst of an injury crisis.

Its time to drop the "we're doomed" negative attitude, and get behind the manager and the players, last night was the perfect time to turn it round and support both.

You are quite right regarding the prestige that comes along with CL success for the owners, management and players. It's fair to say that we have finally 'arrived' in the CL and need to keep that going every season, not least because we are beginning to overshadow our domestic competitors. I'm sure that Ferran is looking forward to his Monday soiree.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Maybe it's time Pellers start to manage gametime to get the best out of Yaya. Something like starting 3 matches in 2 weeks or so.

Absolutely 100% this.

Rest him whether he likes it or not, & NEVER start a big game with him +1 in the midfield, EVER. Delph & Fernandinho playing vs a very very lively, quick, hard working Borussia side meant Yaya & Silva not having to constantly run long sprints to recover the ball.

Both looked fresh well into the second half, & City as a team finished looking much fitter than the opposition, in spite of playing v Stoke, in a hurricane, at weekend & many carrying niggles. It's no conicidence, that both have had time off & that we started with two runners in midfield & no half fit Aguero.

We need to manage all our attackers like this too imo. DeBruyne is in also need of tlc. If we keep our best players fit & look after them, we will win stuff, at least domestically, even with an incompetent defence. If we also tighten that up, we'll win stuff easily, we are on another level to the competition.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Watching the highlights again. Honestly, let's have it right. Our defence was absolute dogshite for those two we let in. It's worrying.
Yaya — again, honestly, I don't quite seem to have been watching the same match as some. I thought he had a very quiet night. I don't think he bossed the game at all, even in the second half. But he did look better than he's done recently, and the writing is clearly on the wall: he must be given games off, henceforth, to perform to something like his level. KDB also needs time off. Sorry, but he does. He is picked in every single game. I'd rest him for Swansea, and no messing.
Merlin's goal. I just love to see him do that. He looked up — always, always looking for someone else to give the ball to. Then he thought, fuck it, I'm in the best position of anyone, why not me? Why indeed not you, El Mago? Our best goal of the four, in my opinion. A goal of that quality should have set us up for the rest of the match. But, well, it's City, so we have to do things the hard way.

 

[mat]

Joe Hart knows the score.

"Were top and will probably get PSG..."

 

[stonerblue]

'Never felt more like singing the Blues..'

 

[The Blue]

I must admit, I've enjoyed the group stages in the champions league this year. They've all been really intriguing games, the away fans that have come over have all been pretty decent atmosphere wise (especially last night).

I honestly think we have a great chance to progress quite far in the comp this year. Topping the table will give the players belief and hopefully momentum. If the club/fans want this, they'll be plenty of teams who are wary of drawing us.

 

[Sergio Picasso Aguero]

I actually think there is a very high chance we could be the only English team left in the competition after tonight. Arsenal have to win away from home by 2 clear goals without 2 of their best 3 players (Sanchez, Cazorla) and Chelsea who are in disarray face a tough game against Porto. I think they will lose by the odd goal and Dynamo Kiev will easily beat Maccabi Tel Aviv at home leaving Chelsea in 3rd. Imagine if after all the "City are useless in Europe" comments if we are the only English team in the knockout phase. Not to mention the fact that we should get a favorable draw, fingers crossed we avoid PSG. If it does go the way I think it will, this could be the year when neutral fans and the media start to take a bit of a shine to us if we are the only ones left flying the flag.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Watching the highlights again. Honestly, let's have it right. Our defence was absolute dogshite for those two we let in. It's worrying.
Yaya — again, honestly, I don't quite seem to have been watching the same match as some. I thought he had a very quiet night. I don't think he bossed the game at all, even in the second half. But he did look better than he's done recently, and the writing is clearly on the wall: he must be given games off, henceforth, to perform to something like his level. KDB also needs time off. Sorry, but he does. He is picked in every single game. I'd rest him for Swansea, and no messing.
Merlin's goal. I just love to see him do that. He looked up — always, always looking for someone else to give the ball to. Then he thought, fuck it, I'm in the best position of anyone, why not me? Why indeed not you, El Mago? Our best goal of the four, in my opinion. A goal of that quality should have set us up for the rest of the match. But, well, it's City, so we have to do things the hard way.

I agree with a lot of this. First half there was a lack of energy all over the pitch. I don’t think you can criticise the back 4 when the pressing in front was completely ineffective and it was down to not all the players being at the same level of intensity.
You could use the video to illustrate how not to defend from the front. If you close down the man with the ball but leave another open you just ask to get the ball passed through you. You have to close down the options slightly faster than you close the man with the ball. We did that so badly last night it was comical. Closing down 2 or 3 players right up the pitch and leaving one wide open, then doing the same in midfield, then the back 4 dropping back as they were passing through us with such ease! Alarming defending as a team but not really an issue with any individual although some were clearly lacking the energy and mobility to close things down faster, Yaya is always a suspect but there were others. If they are not looking at that in training this week then they need shooting.

 

[Phil1]

Watching the highlights again. Honestly, let's have it right. Our defence was absolute dogshite for those two we let in. It's worrying.
Yaya — again, honestly, I don't quite seem to have been watching the same match as some. I thought he had a very quiet night. I don't think he bossed the game at all, even in the second half. But he did look better than he's done recently, and the writing is clearly on the wall: he must be given games off, henceforth, to perform to something like his level. KDB also needs time off. Sorry, but he does. He is picked in every single game. I'd rest him for Swansea, and no messing.
Merlin's goal. I just love to see him do that. He looked up — always, always looking for someone else to give the ball to. Then he thought, fuck it, I'm in the best position of anyone, why not me? Why indeed not you, El Mago? Our best goal of the four, in my opinion. A goal of that quality should have set us up for the rest of the match. But, well, it's City, so we have to do things the hard way.

Some of the plaudits Yaya has been getting from last night are over the top. He was, as you say better than recent showings but apart from a couple of bursts forward, which look great on a highlight reel, he was just ok.

 

[Stoned Rose]

he likes that curling shot into the far corner. he tries it a lot. A performance like that, whether it was just moments as some say, or more - - either way it was the difference - shows we were right to buy him

No arguments from me bud :)

 

[VOOMER]

Would it be a disaster to play a back 5 of Sagna Ottimendi, Vinnie Mangala AK?
My reasoning would be that all 3 can bring the ball out, Ottimendi and Mangala have both played a fair few games at RB and LB respectively. It would allow Ottimendi to make the those premptive tackles and harass the opposition. The same would apply to other two.